Friday, April 24, 2015

Today, on the 24th of April 2015, another historical victory has been achieved by the transgender people of India after the Supreme court judgement legally recognizing transgenders last year. A private bill moved in the Rajya Sabha by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Tiruchi Siva, the ‘Rights of Transgender Persons bill-2014’ has been passed today.

After 1970, 45 years later, this bill is the first private member bill passed by the House, a historic thing indeed.

I am extremely happy and express my sincere thanks to the member of the Rajya Sabha Mr.Tiruchi Siva and all the other Rajya sabha members for unanimously supporting and passing the Transgender rights Bill.

The members have supported inspite of the political differences. The transgender community has, for over a century, lived in the the most marginalized space in the society. Our relentless battle still continues. The supreme court judgement last year recognizing transgenders and transgender rights bill passed in the Rajya Sabha, both have given us big hopes in our struggling life. We have believe that there is a possibility for betterment in transgender people's lives which will ensure equality and justice for us. We hope that the bill will also be unanimously supported and passed at the Lok Sabha and made into a law for protecting us.

The passing of the bill ensures that the transgender persons' rights and wellness and insists on proactive measures to be initiated by the Central and the State governments for the welfare of the transgender community in the country. I hope and wish the central government and all the state governments will implement social security and upliftment measures for us with a long term vision.

I am also thankful to the RBI for its announcement today in which it has directed all the banks in the country to include third gender in its application forms.This is indeed another noteworthy announcement which will facilitate access to banking services for the transgender people for the first time.

It is a proud moment for all if us activists and I sincerely thank our alleys, human rights activists and organizations, academicians, lawyers and the Judiciary, and all the media houses and journalists who have relentlessly voiced and supported for our issue and our upliftment from the social shackles and stigma.

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About Kalki

Kalki is an activist, author and an actor. She is a well known activist in India working on transgender rights. She is also the founder of Sahodari Foundation, an organization working
for the social, economic and political empowerment of transgender
persons in India.

A transsexual woman herself, Kalki holds two Master’s degrees - First one
in Journalism and Mass Communication and the second in International
Relations.She fiercely campaigns for social,
political, and economic equity and rights of transgender and intersex
people.

Through Sahodari Foundation, Kalki works within the transgender community on several issues, for example, by creating empowerment programs like entrepreneurship training which can positively change the poor transgenderand intersex people’s livelihood choices – a life away from begging, a life with dignity. She also provides counseling and guidance for a better life after transitioning. With the public, she advocates against transgender discrimination and hatred and voices for inclusion of transgender and intersex people at all levels. She has lectured in numerous prestigious institutions like IIT Madras, Jindal Global Law School, National Judicial Academy and many more institutions across India. She has also represented India in seminars internationally.

On the professional side, Kalki is an actress, short documentary film maker, script writer and a published author. Her collection of poetry in Tamil titled 'Kuri Aruthean' was published recently by reputed publishing house Vikatan publishers. She is currently working two of her books, her first English book and her second Tamil book.

On February 21st 2009, Kalki was awarded the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by the Lioness Club of Chennai in appreciation of her transgender rights advocacy work. She has received several awards for her contribution towards transgender rights. Kalki was one of the major campaigners behind the Indian Supreme Court's verdict legalising transgender as Third Sex in the country.

In October 2010, Ms.Kalki was invited by the government of the United States of America for a 16 days Human Rights activism & Awareness program through IVLP to Washington DC, New York and SaltLake City. She is the first transsexual foreign national to be invited by the United States government.She has also been invited internationally to speak on marginalized people's rights.

Kalki's debut in Indian film world happened with 'Narthaki', an offbeat film about the life journey of a transsexual woman - her quest for happiness, love and finding her identity and true happiness. She became the first transsexual film star in India to do a lead role in a major feature film.

In 2012, she was honoured with an invitation to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi to participate in the swearing in ceremony of Chief Justice of India Honourable Altamas Kabir.

In 2013, Junior Chamber International Pondicherry White Town presented her the Outstanding Social Worker Award.

In 2015, for her turmoil account of life through poetry in her Tamil book 'Kuri Aruthaen', she received the Best Poet award from Born2Win Trust, Chennai.